Key Matchups - Round 1, Playoffs

A look around the region shows several interesting matchups in the first round of the playoffs tonight. Here's a quick breakdown of a couple of the most intriguing in Western Arkansas:

Little Rock Catholic at Rogers Heritage
In only its second season as a program, Heritage High will host the first playoff game in Rogers since 1978 when Little Rock Catholic comes to town on Friday night. Catholic has tapered off in recent weeks but started the season strong behind the play of quarterback Taylor Bartlett. The senior should have a large following himself Friday night with plenty of family members in Northwest Arkansas, but will need to elevate his team more than in past weeks if the Rockets are to keep pace with the War Eagles’ explosive offense. Heritage has been the surprise team of the state – in any class – after posting an 8-2 record and taking the conference’s No. 3 seed with wins against perennial powers Fayetteville and Fort Smith Southside in the final two weeks of the season.

Fort Smith Southside at Bryant
Southside will need to snap out of their late-season funk if they are to win at Bryant, a team that started as hot as any in the state this season. The Rebels had to rally late to beat Northside 26-22 last week and snap a three-game losing skid. Defense will be key as the Bryant Hornets line up one of the most dangerous players in the state in senior tailback Chris Rycraw. He’s the leading rusher in Bryant school history, but the Rebs’ defensive front has the strength to slow him down. In Week 8, Rycraw was held to a season-low 60 yards in a 29-7 loss to North Little Rock, a team that sports one of the top defensive lines in the state. Stop Rycraw, and the Rebs have a chance.

Other notable first-round games:
• Springdale at Russellville (Cyclones should win what could turn into shootout)
• Conway at Fayetteville (Conway’s been hot, FHS has been not)
• Alma at White Hall (could be very close game with Alma QN Burke Broadfoot expected to miss with an injury)
• Valley View at Gravette (Bracket set up for Lions to make postseason run if they can get by Valley View. But must play A LOT better than last week’s loss to Prairie Grove)